By Grace Zigah
A fresh wave of armed highway robbery has reared its head on the notorious Kasoa-Winneba stretch, leaving four passengers injured and security agencies scrambling for answers.
The latest attack occurred at Buduatta Junction around 1:00 am on Saturday, July 6, 2025, as gun-wielding criminals opened fire on a commercial minibus carrying unsuspecting passengers.
According to police reports, the assailants mounted a roadblock in the dead of night, forcing vehicles to halt while they robbed commuters at gunpoint.
The driver of a Toyota Hiace minibus, ferrying passengers toward Winneba, reportedly tried to slow down when the robbers opened fire indiscriminately, injuring four passengers in the process.
The injured victims were quickly rushed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment for various degrees of gunshot wounds.
Escalation of a Regional Crime Trend
The Central East Regional Police Command has described the incident as part of a troubling trend of armed attacks that has plagued the Gomoa East District in recent months.
Between May and June this year, similar robbery attacks were recorded around Potsin Junction and Okyereko Junction.
However, intensified police patrols in those locations appear to have pushed the criminal gangs further down the highway, with Buduatta Junction now emerging as their new hotspot.
Security operatives from the Formed Police Unit (FPU) and the Kasoa Divisional SWAT team were deployed to the scene in the early hours of Saturday and managed to secure the area.
During their return patrol around 2:30 a.m., officers encountered two men behaving suspiciously near the Onion Market.
One fled into nearby bushes, but the other was arrested on the spot.
Upon searching the suspect, police discovered three mobile phones believed to belong to the victims of the Buduatta robbery.
The driver and some passengers later positively identified the man as one of the attackers who held them at gunpoint.
The suspect has since been handed over to the Central East Regional Police Command for further investigations and possible prosecution.
Meanwhile, security agencies have mounted a search for his accomplices believed to be hiding in surrounding areas.
Police Frustration Over Logistics and Manpower
While the swift response of the FPU and SWAT units led to a timely arrest, officers at the Gomoa Dominase District Police Command say they are increasingly handicapped by inadequate resources.
Speaking to the media, several officers expressed frustration over the lack of vehicles and personnel to effectively patrol the expansive highway corridor.
“We are trying our best, but without logistics and manpower, we are fighting an uphill battle,” one officer told AdomOnline. “Our hands are tied.”
The station has now made a public appeal to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Ministry of the Interior to urgently supply more vehicles, personnel, and operational support to combat the surge in violent crimes in the region.
Public Concern Mounts Over Road Safety
The resurgence of armed highway robberies have triggered alarm among road users and transport operators.
Commercial drivers who frequently ply the Accra-Winneba-Cape Coast route are calling for intensified patrols and fixed security checkpoints along high-risk areas, especially during the night.
